Talk about brotherly bonding! You know when 5 men can lay in a bed and watch the notebook, we are comfortable in our own skin and not ashamed of our softer sides. I know culture would oppose this because the culture norms are:
Men don't watch chic flicks
Men don't cry
Men don't have soft sides
Men are, rough, tough,
The list goes on, but I thank God for a heart that has taken delight and refuge in Christ therefore wiping my mind clean of what a man is supposed to be. God intended for manhood and womanhood to be biblical and nothing outside of those parameters. I'm not saying watching the notebook with men has anything to do with being a biblical man, im jus making it clear that just because a man does do things contrary to "culture manhood" that doesn't make him more or less of a man. What makes him more or less of a man is his intimacy and relationship with Christ. While culture says harden your heart, show no emotion Christ says oh fallen man, bow to me and be broken before my throne.
Back to the movie:
For most girls this movie is a fantasy love story that they one day dream of becoming a reality in their life and for most men it's a fantasy that they hear women talk about and their response is "yea right".
Two problems on both ends:
1. The woman is overlooking that this fantasy can be a reality in Christ.
2. The man is doubting that a fantasy like such could ever be a reality.
While the woman is wishing for this reality, Christ is saying come to me for there is no greater love than i. While the man is denying this fantasy Christ is saying if only you knew my love for thee.
Noah was relentless in his pursuit for Alley and this is what I love about being in a relationship with Christ. Christ pursues us! It's hard to fathom that the creator of the universe pursues man. "oh god what is man that you are mindful of thee." As much as man wants to take credit for choosing God, we didn't! He pursues us and he draws us with a gracious hand. We love him because he first loved us and we didn't choose him he chose us.
1 john:4:14 We love because he first loved us.
John 15:16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.
What also stood out to me and was a beautiful reflection of Christ was the promise Noah made to build the house. Although Noah and Alley were separated he kept that promise. Does not Christ do the same? When we run, when we fight, when we go against his will, he is faithful in keeping every promise because of who he is. Rest assure that if Christ saved you he has made a promise to finish the work he has started.
Philippians 1:6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
Last but not least one of the most majestic moments in the movie took place when Noah and Alley were surrounded by beautiful ducks and Alley asked "why are the ducks here?" Noah replied sometimes they migrate back to where they are from (it sounds better in the movie) but when he made this comment I easily read between the lines and knew he was referring to Alley coming back home/to him.
That comment reminded me why I love the sweet sovereignty and providence of God. It's hard to fathom that in times when we wonder away or when we stray from the narrow path, he somehow divinely works all things out for his glory and out of love through his spirit he compels us to come back to him in brokeness and contrition and this is the beauty of his mercy,grace, faithfulness and his unbreakable covenant with us.
Ephesians 2: 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Thank you Jesus for choosing be beforehand and drawing me back to you when I stray. Yes you are faithful!
